"He will lead his team to semifinal and final" - Manpreet Singh backs Sunil Kumar to lead U Mumba to PKL 11 final
Haryana Steelers’ head coach Manpreet Singh has heaped praise on his former protégé and current U Mumba captain Sunil Kumar, predicting that Sunil will lead his team to the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 2024 Final.
In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, Manpreet claimed that not only would U Mumba make it to the final, but they would face Haryana Steelers for the PKL 11 trophy.
“You can write this down: Sunil will play in the final of this tournament. I am 101% sure of this (On Haryana Steelers vs U Mumba final),” Manpreet Singh said. “He will lead his team to the semifinal and final.”
Manpreet’s confidence in Sunil is not without a competitive edge. The Haryana Steelers have dominated U Mumba in PKL Season 11, defeating them in both league encounters, a 48-39 victory on November 11 and a commanding 47-30 win on December 22. However, Sunil’s overall record against Manpreet’s coached sides stands at 4-3
Haryana Steelers have already confirmed their top spot in the standings, securing a direct entry into the semifinals. Meanwhile, U Mumba is just a step away from playoff qualification, with only a highly improbable 48-point loss to Bengal Warriorz in their final league fixture standing in their way.
Sunil Kumar’s leadership has been instrumental in U Mumba’s success this season, as the team is on the brink of making the playoffs after missing out in the last three seasons.
Sunil has consistently outsmarted raiders with his defensive strategies while ensuring his team maximizes its potential.
“Sunil's most remarkable quality is that he is a great human being. That’s the most important thing. He gets along with everyone easily. Despite having limited resources, he makes the most of them. He plays with a player’s mind. Sunil distracts the raider’s focus when they come to raid," Manpreet added.
"As a captain, he knows which raid to target for points and which to avoid. He doesn’t pressure his raiders to try on every raid, and in defense, he doesn’t go for tackles against every raider. That’s what makes him an exceptional captain,” Manpreet elaborated.
Sunil Kumar’s PKL journey has been nothing short of remarkable. With 76 wins as captain, he is the most successful skipper in the league’s history, a feat highlighted by his title-winning run with Jaipur Pink Panthers in PKL Season 9.
“Today, he is the best captain in Indian kabaddi. He knows when to speed up the match and when to slow it down. Along with being a player, he plays like a coach within the team. His understanding of kabaddi is exceptional," he added.
Sunil Kumar has played 158 PKL matches so far, having secured 385 tackle points. He got his breakthrough in PKL 5 under the coaching of Manpreet Singh in Gujarat Fortune Giants. He was made captain in PKL 6 and even led Gujarat to a runner-up finish. The right-cover defender then moved to Jaipur in Season 9 and immediately led them to the title.
Manpreet believes Sunil’s growth as a leader stems from his early days under his mentorship at Gujarat Fortune Giants. He continued:
“He knows which raider will score on a particular defense and when to make an advanced tackle. He has the experience to recognize what needs to be done in every situation. This understanding has come from playing countless matches over the years for Railways, Haryana, SAI, and in the PKL. When I made him a leader in Gujarat, he learned a lot from me and did so wholeheartedly.”
Manpreet Singh calls Sunil Kumar and another former Indian legend ‘Tigers’
Manpreet Singh’s admiration for Sunil reached new heights when he compared him to kabaddi legend Manjeet Chhillar, dubbing both players “Tigers.” In the same interview, he said:
"There are only 2-3 people in the world whom I call ‘Tiger.’ One is Manjeet Chhillar, and the other is Sunil Kumar.”
Haryana Steelers, led by their young captain Jaideep Dahiya, have been one of the standout teams in PKL 11. After an underwhelming run in PKL 10 where they surprised everyone by finishing as runners-up with a young squad, they have now secured a spot in the semifinals and are just two wins away from their first-ever PKL title.
Manpreet Singh highlighted Jaideep’s development as a leader while drawing a comparison with Sunil Kumar.
“Now, players like Jaideep are learning too. Last season, Jaideep’s coordination with his team’s raiders and defenders was limited, but now he rotates them very effectively. Sunil is just like that," he concluded.